In November 2025, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), renowned experts in global higher education, unveiled the 4th edition of the 'QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026'. This edition evaluates universities worldwide based on their contributions to sustainability.
The Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi (IIT-D) has emerged as India's top performer, securing the 205th position globally with a score of 83.1. Despite a slight drop from last year's 171st rank, IIT-D remains a significant contender in global sustainability education. Unfortunately, no Indian institution made it to the top 200 this year.
Lund University in Sweden has claimed the top spot in the 2026 rankings, marking a first since the index's inception in 2023. Following closely are the University of Toronto (Canada) and the University College London (UK) in second and third places, respectively.
In addition to Lund University, University of Toronto, and University College London, the University of Edinburgh (UK) and University of British Columbia (Canada) secure the fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
Other prestigious institutions in the top 10 include the London School of Economics, Imperial College London, UNSW Sydney, McGill University, and the University of Manchester.
India is the fourth most represented country in the rankings, featuring 103 institutions, including 26 new entries. Among these, 32 institutions improved their rankings, while 15 maintained their previous positions, and 30 experienced a drop.
Nine out of the top 15 Indian universities saw a decline in their rankings, including Jadavpur University and Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru (IISc). However, IIT-D and IIT-KGP are among the top 100 globally for 'Employability and Outcomes', whereas Delhi University ranks 94th for 'Knowledge Exchange'.
QS is led by Founder and President Nunzio Quacquarelli, with headquarters in London, UK. They continue to be a pivotal player in global education rankings.
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